LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL FOLLOWING MURDER OF NURSING ASSISTANT ANRAE JAMES BY...

Citing systemic safety failures, Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky alleges wrongful death and negligence

PHILADELPHIA, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys at Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky today sued Philadelphia's Thomas Jefferson University Hospital alleging systemic security failures resulted in last October's execution-style murder of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Anrae T. James, who was killed by a heavily armed, off-duty co-worker, according to the lawsuit. After the attack, murderer Stacey Hayes, who had a history of violence, fled the hospital and wounded two Philadelphia police officers in a shootout before his capture.

Attorney Steven G. Wigrizer, of SMB, said the complaint (James v. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital et al., Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas) was filed this morning on behalf of Mr. James' widow and their three children. Our pre-suit investigation concluded that the defendants are responsible for the litany of outrageous security failures that Jefferson officials admitted to only after this heinous killing. Justice now demands they be held accountable for their reckless inaction that put Mr. James and others including staff, patients, visitors and medical Jefferson's own medical students - at risk. When Hayes entered Jefferson Hospital's S. 10th St. building, he was carrying a large bag containing assorted guns and wearing body armor. He walked uncontested through an unsecured main entrance without being stopped because there were no guards at their assigned stations. Besides asserting claims of wrongful death and negligence, the lawsuit seeks a jury trial, along with unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.